Snapshot In Time: Wanchope Named As The Premiership Player Of The Month In October 1997

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Wanchope Proudly Claims Premiership Player Of The Month Award

Pictured here is Derby County’s Paulo Wanchope proudly holding the Carling Premiership Player of the Month award for October aloft back in 1997.

The Costa Rica international striker was in stunning form during the month and was involved in all five of Derby’s league goals in October.

He set up both of Francesco Baiano’s goals in the Rams’ 2-1 victory at Leicester City at the beginning of the month as Jim Smith’s side racked up three successive league wins to climb the table.

Following the October international break, Wanchope remained a key figure as Derby played out a thrilling 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Pride Park Stadium.

Wanchope almost opened the scoring as he saw a header superbly saved by Peter Schmeichel in the United goal, but Baiano was on hand to fire home the rebound from close range.

The frontman did get his name on the scoresheet soon afterwards to put Derby 2-1 ahead, with a fine individual run rounded off with a cool finish past Schmeichel.

Wanchope also set up Baiano again as Derby drew 1-1 with Wimbledon at Pride Park a few days later, with his header across goal converted by the in-form Italian striker from a few yards out.

Derby ended the month with a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool to end their good run of form, having been five games unbeaten at the time.

Wanchope also made his mark in two League Cup ties during October.

He scored once in 5-0 home win over Southend United in a Second Round Second Leg tie, after his single goal had secured a 1-0 victory at Roots Hall in the First Leg during September.

Wanchope went on to net both goals as Derby ran out 2-1 winners in the Third Round of the competition at Tottenham Hotspur.

He is the only Derby County player to have won the Player of the Month award in the top- flight since its inception in 1992, and he ended the 1997/98 season as the Rams’ leading goalscorer with 17 goals in all competitions as Smith’s side finished the campaign in 9th place.

Despite having moved to Pride Park Stadium in the summer of 1997, Wanchope posed for photographs with his personal accolade at the Baseball Ground.

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